Septic System And Well Records Now Available Online For Clarke County Properties

Clarke County and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) have launched its Online Responsible Maintenance Entity (OnlineRME) database. The purpose is to provide an online, publicly accessible, complete, and up-to-date database of all county onsite sewage system “septic system” records. These records will assist homeowners, contractors, and onsite sewage system operators in understanding the system type, maintenance requirements, and, in some cases, the location of wells and onsite sewage system components. 

The system will also be used to remind property owners when pump-outs of conventional onsite sewage systems (COSS) and inspections of operation and 

maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems are due.

 To access your records, go to: clarkecounty.gov/residents/septic-pump-out.

The county’s goal is to make this the most complete and accurate database possible, and encourages everyone to check their records. If you have additional information regarding your system or need assistance with accessing records, contact the Clarke County Planning Department, Alison Teetor, ateetor@clarkecounty.gov, 540-955-5177. Contact the Clarke County Health Department at 540-955-1033with any technical questions regarding your septic system or well records.

Black History Museum Welcomes Young Readers For Contest

Story and photo by Cathy Kuehner

The Josephine School Community Museum hosted its 19th “Helen O. Carr Dramatic Reading Contest” on Feb. 15 at the museum on Josephine Street in Berryville. Seven youngsters competed in the 2nd and 3rd grade category and six students were in the 4th and 5th grade category. All read passages they selected from published fiction and nonfiction work written by or about African Americans. Each stepped up to the microphone in front of a standing-room-only crowd, made eye contact with the audience, and read with clarity and emotion.

Three judges tallied scores and awarded the top spots to Theodore Birgler and Sabre Schultz. Theodore won the 2nd & 3rd grade category. He is in the third grade at Wesley D. Tisdale School in Ramsey, N.J., and was visiting relatives in Clarke County at the time of the contest. Sabre is a fourth-grader at D.G. Cooley Elementary School. She won the 4th & 5th grade category. Prizes were also awarded for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places in both categories.

Reading Contest” is named for an extraordinary woman who was actively involved in planning the proposed Josephine School Community Museum in the late 1990s. Helen Carr was a founding member of the museum’s Board of Directors. Her interest in transforming the Josephine School into a community museum was personal. Her step-father Ralph Paige attended the school, and she herself attended a one-room elementary school for Black children.

After the museum opened in 2003, Ms. Carr organized the first Black History Month “Dramatic Reading Contest” in 2004. She also helped develop its “Book Club Series” and scholarship program for Clarke County High School seniors. She retired from the museum Board in 2016.The Josephine School Community Museum & Clarke County African American Cultural Center is located at 303 Josephine St. in Berryville. Contact the museum at (540) 955-5512, (540) 333-0692, or jschool515@verizon.net. Follow “Josephine School Community Museum” on Facebook.

Va. Lawmakers Seem Ready To Add More Energy Storage To The Grid

By Leah Small

Virginia lawmakers want to more than triple the amount of energy storage capacity Virginia’s two public utility companies — Dominion and Appalachian Power (ApCo) — must procure under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA).

Passed in 2020, the VCEA required Dominion to supply electricity from only carbon-neutral sources by 2045. It gave ApCo until 2050 to meet the same standard. As part of its strategy to decarbonize the grid, the VCEA also set targets for public utilities to add capacity to store excess energy produced from renewable sources to dispatch during times of high demand.

House Bill 2537 and companion Senate Bill 1394 would increase targets set by the VCEA for Dominion and ApCo energy storage capacity from a combined 3,100 megawatts to 10,000 megawatts. Del. Richard Sullivan, D-Fairfax, who proposed HB 2537, said more energy storage would bring down energy costs — which Dominion projects will rise by 50% for its residential customers by 2039 — and help maintain grid reliability.

“This will position the commonwealth as a real national leader in developing energy storage … reduces the need to develop peaker plants, and ensures the best use of renewable technologies,” Sullivan said.

He added that increasing storage capacity “ensures the lights stay on for constituents during natural weather events.”

Sullivan’s bill passed the House 54-44 along mostly partisan lines, with two members not voting. The Senate version, brought by Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, passed unanimously. The two bills now await further action in the other’s chamber.

Dominion has warned that to keep up with increased power demand, it may need to build up to eight natural gas peaker plants — designed to be used when needed during demand peaks — over the next 10 to 15 years. Last year, Dominion announced plans to build a peaker plant in Chesterfield but has faced opposition from community members and environmental activists who say the plant could stall Virginia’s decarbonization mandates.

Investments in energy storage have paid off in other states. In Texas, through record summer heat waves in 2023 and winter storms in 2024, energy storage systems saved the state $750 million in energy costs and prevented grid shutdowns, according to separate analyses by Aurora Energy, energy market research consultants, and The American Clean Power Association, a clean energy industry lobby. Renewables and energy storage batteries make up half of Texas’ energy mix, the American Clean Power report states.

Republican lawmakers in Virginia’s House are also concerned about rising energy costs but said investments to develop energy storage technology would mean additional costs to ratepayers. Del. Israel O’Quinn, R-Bristol, also took issue with VCEA requirements that public utilities pay penalties for not meeting clean energy goals, including battery storage requirements — costs that could be passed on to ratepayers.

“It’s time we step back and take a holistic look at where we are as it relates to utility regulations — as it relates to the ratepayers who are depending on us to try to make good decisions here and control the costs that are within our control,” O’Quinn said.

The bills require Dominion to apply for available federal Department of Energy grants to offset part of the development costs. Sullivan said investment in energy storage will bring future savings and is needed due to growing demand on the grid in Virginia. “We must increase storage development so that renewable energy produced at times it may not be needed can be stored to be put on the grid at the most useful time,” he said. “Investments in storage today will pay large dividends for ratepayers and grid stability for decades to come.”

Where is Dominion on energy storage?  

Under the VCEA, Dominion, Virginia’s largest public utility, is required to procure at least 2,700 megawatts of energy storage capacity by the end of 2035. The utility’s first interim goal is to petition the State Corporation Commission by the end of this year for approval to bring 250 megawatts of storage capacity online. Dominion says it is ahead on its year-end target and has petitioned the SCC for 557.1 megawatts of storage capacity, some of which is operational. One megawatt of storage capacity can power 250 homes at peak output, Dominion says.

The utility’s 557.1-megawatt storage portfolio includes projects in various stages of development.

Across four facilities in Chesterfield, New Kent, Powhatan and Hanover, Dominion currently has 36 megawatts of battery energy storage capacity in operation, 16 megawatts of which pre-date the VCEA, so are not factored into Dominion’s storage targets.

Also factored into VCEA targets is an additional 78 megawatts of storage capacity in various stages of development at five facilities across Virginia, including a 50-megawatt facility at Dulles International Airport that when completed will be the largest storage facility in Dominion’s fleet. Dominion acquired an additional 459.1 megawatts of capacity through power purchase agreements.

How close is Dominion to meeting proposed storage targets?

In addition to increasing capacity requirements, the bills call on public utilities to acquire specific amounts of both short-duration and long-duration energy storage capacity. The bills define short-duration as less than 10 hours of generation, and long-duration as 10 or more hours.

Differentiating between short- and long-duration storage in Virginia code ensures that short-duration batteries are deployed soon to meet current energy needs, while long-duration technologies are being improved and developed, says Bennett Fuson, a spokesperson for American Clean Power.

“We’ve primarily seen short duration energy storage, we haven’t seen a significant roll-out of [long duration systems],” Fuson says. “What we do know is having the resources to hold more power that’s cheaply generated and dispatch it for longer periods of time to offset those costs does help … as we’re thinking about that next generation of energy consumers.”

If the new storage targets are adopted, Dominion would have a lot of catching up to do. By year-end 2045, Dominion would be required to petition the SCC to buy or purchase 3,480 megawatts of long-duration storage, half of which must be petitioned for by the end of 2035.

And half of the 2045 long-duration energy storage target capacity would be required to supply more than 24 hours of power. The legislation would also establish short duration energy storage capacity targets for 2045 and interim targets.

The SCC would have authority to determine the feasibility of the long duration energy storage targets and adjust the targets as needed. The SCC’s assessment would be based on a demonstration of pilot projects by Dominion that show energy storage technologies of at least 3,000 megawatts in capacity by 2029. Adopting new targets would depend on factors such as cost and reliability.

Dominion is working with energy storage developers to pilot three long duration storage projects, including two battery systems at its Darbytown Power Station in Chesterfield — one of which could potentially discharge energy for 100 hours, according to Dominion. But the pilots — a combined 12.3 megawatts — would make a very small dent in 2029 technology demonstration goals.

Christine Noonan, a lobbyist for Dominion, says the legislation would give Dominion the opportunity to study long-duration energy storage, which “could be an important tool for [grid] reliability going forward.”

“Ultimately, after that technology demonstration [in 2029] the commission will have full authority to agree with the targets set in the code or alter them up or down and we think that is the right approach,” Noonan adds.

This article originally appeared in the Virginia Mercury, VirginiaMercury.com. Leah Small is a Richmond-based freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times, Style Weekly, Richmond Magazine, The Progress-Index and others.

Clarke Monthly March 2025

Clarke Monthly February 2025

Home Land: What Does It Mean To Be Rural?

Your Clarke County; Understanding the past, present, and future through the comprehensive plan

Story and photographs by Jennifer M. Lee

Whether you have lived here all your life, moved recently into a town neighborhood with your young family, grew up here at some pivotal point in life, or in any way found yourself knowing Clarke County in a more than passing way, you know that it is a unique place. 

This year, Clarke Monthly will take a deep look at the county — its geography, people, economy — with the Clarke County Comprehensive Plan as our reference and guide on its history and vision for sustainable future. Clarke County adopted its initial comprehensive plan in June 1974, and it has been updated over the years, most recently in 2022. Code of Virginia requires that every county have a comprehensive plan and that planning commissions review their plans at least once every five years in order to determine whether it is advisable to make changes.

The ”Comp Plan” shouldn’t be confused with the zoning ordinance. From the county’s website: The Clarke County Comprehensive Plan maps the future of land use in the county. This long-range Plan captures the county’s vision, projects the necessary resources to make this vision happen, and provides strategies and recommendations to make the vision a successful reality.” The zoning ordinance contains the laws and regulations governing the use of land in the unincorporated areas of the County. It does not apply to properties located in the towns of Berryville and Boyce.

With 15,466 people estimated to live in the county in 2023, Clarke is the 97th most populated jurisdiction of 95 counties and 38 independent cities (such as Winchester, Richmond, Harrisonburg) in Virginia. Comprising 178 square miles (114,103 acres), it is the 42nd smallest of all counties and independent cities in land area. Arlington is the smallest county by land area with 26 square miles; Pittsylvania in south-central Virginia is the largest at 969 square miles. In comparison, neighboring Loudoun County comprises 515 square miles with 338,916 people; Frederick is 413 square miles with 80,377 people; Warren is 213 square miles with 38,142 people.

Statistics don’t define a place, but they do help us understand the changing needs and character of it. So do the people. Clarke County has been home to Native Americans inhabiting the river banks and mountain land over 10,000 years ago. Immigrants from Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, and England came here 400 years ago. Clarke County was formed in 1836, and the first census in 1840 showed 55 percent of the population to be African American with the vast majority being enslaved at that time. According to 1860 census data, Clarke County had the largest percentage of land in farms and ranked second in wheat production in the Shenandoah Valley, with wheat being the largest cash crop until the early 1900s, when it was replaced by apple production. In the late 20th century, an increasing number of people moved to the county to construct or buy new homes, prompting the county to enact new land use regulations in 1980 to limit residential growth in rural areas and focus new housing in the Berryville area.

Compared to our neighbors to the east (Loudoun County) and west (Frederick County), Clarke County has experienced relatively low population growth, with an increase of 16 percent between 2000 and 2020, while Loudoun’s population increased 119 percent and Winchester and Frederick County grew by 40 percent in that time. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey Estimates, nearly 70 percent of Clarke County residents worked outside the county, with Loudoun and Fairfax counties being the primary workplace locations (Virginia Employment Commission).

An agricultural county

The Comprehensive Plan states that agriculture is still one of the county’s main sources of income, although statistics from the Virginia Employment Commission show that less than 5 percent of jobs are in agriculture, forestry, fishing, or hunting in contrast to 19 percent in public administration and 17 in manufacturing.

Seventy-three percent of the County is zoned Agricultural Open Conservation (west of the Shenandoah) and 23 Forestal Open Conservation (east of the Shenandoah), with a hefty 77 percent of all county land in 20+ acre lots. Urban Residential (parcels in Berryville and Boyce) comprise one percent of county land, Suburban Residential (parcels less than 6 acres) comprise 6.7, Rural Residential (parcels between 6 and 20 acres) comprise 9, and Commercial (towns, highway, neighborhood) comprises less than one percent. The remaining 6 percent is comprised of government-owned parcels, roads, and the Shenandoah River.

For many years, state agencies and land trusts worked with county property owners to voluntarily place land in conservation easement, and the county created the Conservation Easement Authority in 2002 to oversee its own easement program. This program limits future development on parcels of agricultural, natural resource, and historic value. An impressive 24 percent of all county land is now in permanent 
conservation easement.

What does rural mean

There was a time when rural meant primarily working lands, with small towns serving as the commercial center for the surrounding countryside. People went into town to get what they needed. Many rural towns also had some level of industry and warehousing close to railroad depots. 

The automobile changed that. There were roadhouses, dance halls, tack shops, and all manner of businesses in the countryside that had nothing to do with working lands. Nowadays, rural areas try to retain areas of prime soils for agriculture, even if properties in those areas are not currently farming. The idea is, once they are gone for other uses there is no getting them back.

“Rural” today is also a census designation based on population density. Rural zoning designations often reflect local desire to subdivide only into large lots as a way to retain “rural character,” reduce the need for schools and high-speed roads in far flung places, and provide environmental benefits like groundwater recharge and wildlife habitat. Today, rural is a decision — it both enables traditional agriculture economies and determines what kind of housing can be built and the types of businesses can be operated within certain zones.

Our county remains rural because that’s the way we like it. What will the future bring? With open-mindedness, community participation, and foresight, it can be steered to reflect the wants and needs of the people and the land we live on. The county’s comprehensive plan is a detailed, thoughtful, and highly informative document. It states: “The purpose of this plan is to guide land-use decisions, both public and private, as they relate to the specific goals of the County.” As such, county residents have the privilege — duty, even — to understand the plan. It is a 133-page document. We hope to distill it into bites you can chew on and digest. We encourage you to check out the plan in its entirety here: https://www.clarkecounty.gov/government/
planning-zoning.

Sources: 

2022 Clarke County Comprehensive Plan

US Census Bureau’s 2023 Population Estimates Program, https://www.virginia-demographics.com/counties_by_population

Timber Works Tree Care Offers Top Notch Service

By Rebecca Maynard

If you’re looking for a licensed, insured, family owned tree care company, Timber Works Tree Care in Front Royal says they are here for all 
your needs.

“We are continually educating ourselves on industry standards to give our customers the best value. Being on the cutting edge of our industry also allows us to help you make the best decision for your property’s safety, as well as your budget,” owner Jack Donahue says. “We invest in state-of-the-art equipment and gear so as to execute projects with pin-point accuracy, safety, and efficiency. All equipment is regularly maintained and inspected. From start to finish, our number one goal is 
your satisfaction.”

Owner Jack Donohue’s passion for working with trees began over 20 years ago as a young man in New Hampshire in the maple syrup industry. His appreciation for tree care grew as he and his family managed the maple trees and maintained the forest around them. Once Donohue moved to Front Royal, he realized the need for a reliable tree service in Virginia, persuading him to start Timber Works Tree Care.

“From our small beginnings, we have developed into a full-service tree company, as well as one of the highest-rated in the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia area,” he said. The company is also a proud member of the International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association.

The services Timber Works Tree Care offer include tree removal, land clearing, forestry mulching, tree trimming, horizontal grinding, emergency tree removal, stump grinding and brush clearing.

Forestry mulching is a good option if you have a large field of land you want to clear, explained operations manager Mary Donohue. 

Traditional land clearing methods often present an increased risk of erosion by pushing over trees, uprooting the stump and roots, and disturbing soils. In contrast, mulching the vegetation leaves the soil structure intact. The mulched material can be left on the ground and will act as an erosion barrier while returning nutrients back into the soil through decomposition.

“What makes us different from other tree companies is that we’re fully licensed and insured,” Jack said. “We really strive to be leaders of quality tree service. We’re family owned and operated, and have won the Best of Warren County award for the past four years.”

“Timber Works Tree Care provides the highest quality tree service to our clients every day. It is our goal to raise the bar for safety, professionalism, and quality of work in the tree industry for our company, our clients, and even our competitors,” said Jack. “We see each job as an opportunity to provide tree care solutions with great attitudes, strong work ethic, and desire to meet and exceed every customer’s expectation.”

Timber Works offers free estimates and a five star guarantee. They can be reached at 540-306-4548 or 
www.timberworksva.com.

Building Stronger Teams: The Power of Restorative Justice in Small Business and Nonprofit Environments

By Brenda Waugh

In today’s fast-paced, tech-dependent world, creating effective, collaborative teams is challenging for organizations of all sizes. For small businesses and nonprofits, the task is even more daunting. Many of these organizations struggle with interpersonal conflicts and diverging goals, which can prevent them from reaching their full potential. However, many local businesses and nonprofits are succeeding by embracing restorative justice practices to rebuild trust, resolve disputes, and foster a more collaborative team. 

I have worked with small businesses, nonprofits, and family-owned businesses, where I witnessed firsthand the power of restorative justice dialogue and restorative justice principles in transforming team dynamics. Over the years, I have developed a comprehensive approach to help teams work through interpersonal conflicts and move toward more effective collaboration by informing the processes with restorative justice and a transformative mediation model. The work usually results in positive impacts on the team and the resolution of 
presenting disputes.  

Resolving Conflict Through Restorative Justice 

The first step in working with a team is often addressing the interpersonal disputes hindering progress. Whether it’s a breakdown in communication, longstanding resentments, or competing interests, these tensions can make it difficult for people to work together productively. 

I have used restorative justice principles to guide the mediation process in these cases. The focus is not on assigning blame or telling people what to do; instead, the goal is to facilitate dialogue and help each party hear the other’s perspective. Restorative justice doesn’t provide a framework to decide who is “right” or “wrong.” Instead, we work to create a space for everyone to be heard, fostering mutual understanding and finding a way forward. 

In many cases, this takes the form of a talking circle, a core practice of restorative justice. Everyone involved in the dispute gathers in a talking circle, and each person can speak without interruption. A facilitator leads the circle, but the goal is for the group to work through the issues together, not for the facilitator to direct the conversation. This structure helps ensure that all voices are heard, even from those who might otherwise stay silent in a more 
traditional meeting. 

From Conflict to Collaboration 

Once the immediate disputes are addressed and a new foundation of trust has been established, the group can move forward with team building and strategic planning. I work with teams to redefine their mission, align their goals, and create a fundamental framework to build upon. The goal is to move from resolving old conflicts to building new energy and momentum for 
the organization. 

Restorative justice practices are often as helpful in this phase as in addressing disputes. The tools that helped the team rebuild trust can now be applied to create a space where all members can actively participate in developing goals, strategies, and a shared vision for the future. 

In some cases, I help the team develop these skills to continue using restorative practices by incorporating them into their bylaws, policies, and procedures. This allows teams to self-facilitate conversations, resolve disputes independently, and maintain long-term healthy communication. Empowering teams with these tools creates a sustainable culture of trust and collaboration, ensuring the organization can thrive. 

Conclusion 

Creating strong, collaborative teams is essential to the success of small businesses and nonprofits. Restorative justice practices, such as restorative justice-based dialogue and talking circles, effectively address conflicts and build stronger, more cohesive teams. Organizations can overcome interpersonal challenges by fostering trust, improving communication, aligning goals, and moving toward a brighter, more collaborative future. 

This approach is not just a model for resolving conflict—it’s a path to creating a healthier, more sustainable organizational culture. 

Brenda Waugh is a lawyer/mediator with Waugh Law & Mediation, serving clients in the Blue Ridge region of Virginia and Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

A New Future for Norfolk & Western Railway Depot in Boyce

Boyce Dispatch

By Frank Sheer

As the conductor on the Polar Express states: “It doesn’t make a difference where a train is going. What matters is if you get on.” Visitors to the Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W) depot in Boyce will eventually learn more about railroad history at the surviving depot in Clarke County.

The Town of Boyce and its railway depot have enjoyed a long history together. Nearly as old as the town, the 1913 structure has served as its public gathering place, the portal through which travel and commerce passed, as well as becoming Boyce’s icon. Indeed, it was the crossing of a newly built Shenandoah Valley Railroad with the Winchester and Berry’s Ferry Turnpike that prompted the birth of a new community in formerly dense, forested land. Unlike Berryville, White Post, and Millwood, the Boyce community — briefly named Boyceville — sprung forth around a stop along the tracks relatively late in Clarke County’s development. The town would not have existed were it not for the arrival of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1879.

The current depot, constructed by John P. Pettyjohn & Co. of Lynchburg, Virginia, replaced an 1880s wooden station adjacent to the turnpike, now named East Main Street and county route 723. The N&W, which acquired the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1890, undertook improvements during the early 1900s, including depot replacement. In 1912, it announced plans to construct a new station on the west side of the track, within the boundaries of the newly incorporated town. The station was planned to be a modest building like those in other villages of less than 1,000 residents, at a projected cost of $7,500. It would have been of wood construction with stoves for heating, oil lamps, and outside restroom facilities.

Mr. Peter H. Mayo negotiated with the N&W to build a “first class” station instead of a smaller structure. Principal enhancements included masonry construction, clerestory windows for better air circulation during summer months, a fashionable stucco design, with electric lighting, central heating, and inside restrooms. It was spacious, modern, and comfortable — rivaling the best contemporary railway stations in small cities. These improvements were added at substantial cost. Mr. Mayo, along with Ms. Hattie Gilpin and Mr. R. Powell Page, contributed $17,500, bringing the station’s value to $25,000 — a sizeable sum in 1913! The station building’s opening date was Saturday, November 8, 1913.

The station served not only passengers traveling locally or beyond Hagerstown, Md., and Roanoke. It was the Western Union telegraph office, Railway Express Agency, handled carload and less-than-carload freight, livestock loading, exchanged U.S. Mail from Railway Post Office routes, and supported N&W Railway operations. During its 45 years of operation, four agents were assigned to the station: Morton J. Dunlap, Theodore M Sheetz, Sylvester M. Lane, and Lee C. Murray. Mr. Dunlap was also a Boyce Town Council member.

Boyce depot was sold to a private owner as of April 16, 1955. The larger of the two waiting rooms was rented to the Post Office Department as the town’s post office. Thus, it continued as a community hub until the post office moved to its present location on West Main Street in 1984. Benjamin Harrison, Russell B. Lloyd, and Eva P. Kibler were Postmasters during the 29 years that the Post Office was at the station. Several clerks and Rural Free Delivery carriers 
also worked there.

The N&W agency, Railway Express, and Western Union services closed on Wednesday, December 31, 1958. The building was later sold again and passed through several owners between then and 2003. It had multiple uses, such as farm supply storage, a FISH charity, restaurant, and a woodworking shop. It is now looking toward future preservation and community uses under the stewardship of the Boyce Railway Depot Foundation!

The address is 117 East Main Street, 22620. It does not presently have interior visitation but readers are welcome to look at the exterior as well as view passing freight trains from a safe distance in the parking lot.

— Frank R. Scheer serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Boyce Railway Depot Foundation.